Camping near Falcon Heights, Minnesota spans tent sites and RV hookups to yurts and cabins, with numerous county and regional park campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan and Lake Elmo County Park Reserve offer well-maintained camping options with varying levels of amenities and privacy. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from April through October, with a few exceptions like Afton State Park that remain open year-round. Campers will find a mix of tent sites, RV hookups, and alternative accommodations including yurts at Afton and cabins at William O'Brien State Park. The St. Croix River corridor east of Falcon Heights provides additional campgrounds with scenic water access.
Most campgrounds near Falcon Heights require advance reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. The camping season typically runs from late April through mid-October, with limited winter camping available at select locations. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, though coverage may vary at more remote sites. Mosquitoes and ticks are common during summer months, requiring appropriate precautions. As one camper noted about Lebanon Hills Regional Park, "We liked that we weren't super close to any campers unlike most RV spots are nowadays." Many campgrounds feature well-maintained shower facilities and restrooms, with electric hookups available at most established sites.
Recreation opportunities abound at campgrounds surrounding Falcon Heights. Lake Elmo County Park Reserve features a filtered swimming pond that campers appreciate. According to one visitor, "The filtered swimming pond has a sandy bottom and is surrounded by a nice sand beach. Large built-in umbrellas are available for sun coverage." Hiking and biking trails connect many campgrounds to larger trail systems. William O'Brien State Park offers "some of the best groomed trails" according to regular visitors. Baker Park Reserve provides excellent fishing opportunities on Lake Independence, where anglers can catch "everything from crappies, perch, sunfish, walleye and musky." Most campgrounds maintain a balance between natural settings and convenient access to urban amenities, making them popular for weekend getaways from the Twin Cities.
$24 - $42 / night
"Professional built mtn bike trails for adventure. Camping in Minnesota suburbs. Miles of hiking, horseback riding, cross country ski trails. . perfect for my family's weekend Stay-cation"
"We live about 15 mins. away from this campground. We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. it has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps."
$23 - $80 / night
"For a County Park, Lake Elmo has an impressive list of amenities. Before we even get to the campsite let's mention the filtered swimming pond."
"Lake Elmo County Park in Washington County Minnesota is a great park for families."
$20 - $75 / night
"Kelly's Bar nearby has a great fish fry on Friday. The campground is neat and well managed."
"It was very easy to find, close to the twin cities, and clean. There was good access to kindling for a fire in the nice fire pit that has a grill."
"Fun to play in the water, go behind the waterfall and a good hike up 200 steps to view the falls from above!"
"Located 5 miles outside of Hudson, Willow Creek State Park is large park with hiking, camp sites, fishing, canoeing, and the waterfall."
$22 - $85 / night
"Minnesota State Parks have just started to build Yurts for 3 campgrounds around the state; Afton, Cuyuna and Glendalough State Parks."
"It is also next to Afton Ski resort. This park has a lot of beautiful prairie landscape with some temperate forest features. Wildflowers, shrubs, fungi, evergreens, and deciduous trees."
$21 - $29 / night
"Baker Park near Minneapolis Minnesota was a our camp choice for inexpensive camping on the last leg of our Minnesota vacation in 2017."
"The beaches are some of the best in Minnesota. The bike trails are nearby and plentiful."
$20 - $32 / night
"I was very happy with the trails and accommodations available to me, during my stay."
"It has a golf course, a restaurant is on the grounds, there is a stable with horses/ponies that you can take guided trail rides on, a water park(it is called The Beach, which was very confusing for us"
$25 - $90 / night
"Easy walking trails surround the park which is nice and convenient. Close proximity to Stillwater which made for a nice day trip. Camp sites were very clean and easy to access."
"We O'Brian has some of the best groomed trails that I have been on."
$20 - $32 / night
"Access to lake is great. Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere."
"Beach was closed but we still got some good walks in. Fire ring was a little shallow for my liking so had to get some solid coals going to get dinner on the table."
"Minnesota is beautiful and there is so much to do here. The bathrooms are spotless and everything is new here."
"Washington County, which manages campgrounds at both the Lake Elmo Park Reserve and St Croix Bluffs Regional Park, does a great job of maintaining campgrounds, trails, and bathroom facilities at both parks"
ScoutGot a nice spot by the water, big parking spot, little below the spot is an opening towards water with a fire pit. 2-3 bars of service but never had an issue. Worked well. Very private. Bugs weren’t bad either
ScoutThis was our first camping experience and it was a great one! I would highly recommend this for anyone’s first or fifth camping adventure!
ScoutI was able to find a campsite not on the road. There was a trail from the parking spot so keep an eye out. Lots of animals saw a turkey and coyote so just be aware. Very pretty and calm. Had to pick up some trash from other campers just a reminder to leave no trace.
GuideThis place is spectacular,u have to walk down to the creek. God's work. Beautiful
TravelerWe stayed here from about 10pm to 6am. There were a ton of people there so it was hard finding somewhere to sleep. Once we did, it was very quiet and we got a good nights rest. There were a couple of cars that passed us in the morning when we left but nothing too crazy. The scenery was very beautiful. This is definitely a great free option if you’re looking for a peaceful spot in the woods to sleep!
TravelerI stayed there with my RV. Most all of the campsites were too small to park it, but I found one at the very end of the park to stay. Although the land itself is beautiful, the locals were reporting me to the DNR officer, who were clearly his friends, and accusing me of things I was not doing. Also, there’s a lot of traffic in and out of there and they fly through there day and night, as well as a lot of gunfire going off a lot of the time. I use T-Mobile service and I was on SOS most of the time. Not very impressed.
TravelerWell maintained. Nice beach.
TravelerBeen camping here year round for 20+ years. Free, first come first served rustic hike/cart in sites with steel fire ring/grill. There are 4 official sites and 2 more unofficial sites with no fire ring.
If you camp with animals: Sites all sit directly off walking trail very popular with dog walkers.
GuideSmall pullout area on state forest land. Can walk trail back to tent.
Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park offers drive-in camping options just 30 minutes from Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Campsites vary from secluded wooded sites to more open spaces across multiple loops, with most sites featuring fire rings with cooking grates. This regional campground maintains 97 sites spread across 2,700 acres of protected land, with camping season typically running from early May through mid-September.
Swimming in filtered ponds: Lake Elmo County Park Reserve maintains a unique swimming facility that combines natural surroundings with pool-like cleanliness. "They have a home made lake that has a sand bottom but it has chlorine like a pool so no weeds. Great for swimming," notes one visitor to Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Kayaking on small lakes: The quiet waters at Lebanon Hills Regional Park provide ideal conditions for paddling. "Nice little lake to kayak on," reports one camper at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. The park rents single and double kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards at their beach area.
Hiking varied terrain: William O'Brien State Park features trails that showcase the diverse landscape of the St. Croix River Valley. "The moon was very bright that night so visibility was excellent. We walked some trail through a frozen marsh landscape and happened upon a railroad that passed above our trail with a beautiful tunnel-overpass," explains a winter visitor about night hiking at William O'Brien State Park Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Rice Creek Campgrounds provides access to several connected lakes with fishing opportunities. The park includes multiple shore fishing spots and boat launches. "Level private sites, lots of trees, Showers were clean. Would definitely camp again," notes a camper who enjoyed the lakeside setting.
Secluded sites within city limits: Despite being in urban areas, many campgrounds near Falcon Heights offer surprising privacy. "Lebanon Hills is a great park and has a lot of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Our family selected this camp ground to test out some gear... Tent camp sites are far enough from each other that neighbors can't be seen, and we didn't hear them either," shares a visitor.
Proximity to urban amenities: Bunker Hills Regional Park offers a wilderness experience with city conveniences nearby. "For being in the middle of the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, this park and campground is surprisingly woodsy, secluded and spacious. There are both primitive (tent) non-electric sites, and sites with electricity, even some 50 amp," remarks one camper.
Clean facilities: Baker Campground maintains high standards for their bathhouses. "The bathrooms and showers are nice and clean, some of the best I've seen at a campground," reports a camper at Baker Campground - Baker Park Reserve. Many campgrounds in this region feature regularly cleaned shower facilities and restrooms.
Year-round availability: Several parks like William O'Brien State Park and Afton State Park remain open through winter months. "I visited William O'Brien in the middle of February with two college roommates. As you can imagine, this meant snow was everywhere in the heart of winter in Minnesota," recounts a winter visitor who stayed in one of the park's cabins.
Reservation requirements: Most camping spots near Falcon Heights, Minnesota require advance booking, especially during summer. "Reserve early online, most weekends were already reserved by mid May," advises a Lebanon Hills camper.
Insect populations: Mosquitoes and ticks are common throughout Minnesota camping areas, particularly in summer months. "Horseflies nonstop attacked us. To not get bite we had to run around like chickens with our heads cut off! No joke," warns a visitor to Rice Creek Campgrounds. Bug spray is essential during warm months.
Noise considerations: While many campgrounds feel secluded, some sites experience ambient sounds. "When the wind died down, you could also occasionally hear the loud motorcycles on the highway," mentions a camper at William O'Brien State Park.
Firewood sourcing: St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park and other area campgrounds sell firewood, but quality and price vary. "Firewood at $7 a bundle doesn't burn, it just smokes. I asked for a refund. Buy firewood elsewhere," suggests one camper at Rice Creek.
Explore dedicated swimming areas: "The filtered swimming pond has a sandy bottom and is surrounded by a nice sand beach," notes a Lake Elmo visitor. Most swimming areas open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather permitting.
Look for playground proximity: Willow River State Park Campground offers recreation options for children. "Great camping and hiking. We loved the falls. Our family spent a week here," shares a family who visited with children. The park features a playground near the campground.
Consider cabin options: For families new to camping, cabins provide comfort with outdoor access. "Camper Cabin (Eastern Bluebird) - Perfect little cabin nestled in the southern half of the park! Screened in porch, heated with electricity, and two double bunk beds!" describes a visitor to Afton State Park.
Pack for weather changes: Minnesota temperatures can fluctuate significantly, even in summer. "June as the prefect time for us to go. Warm days and cool nights make for great camping and campfires," advises a Willow River camper who visited with family.
Site selection for privacy: "We stayed in the East Loop which is for smaller RVs and tents. It has electricity but no water hookups, however there are water pumps. We stayed at site 72 which is at the beginning of the loop," explains an RV camper at Lebanon Hills.
Electric hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Falcon Heights offer electric sites, but not all provide full hookups. "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be. The sites are about as private as the typical state park," notes a camper at Baker Park Reserve.
Dump station access: Several parks including Lebanon Hills and Lake Elmo provide sanitary dump stations. "We had full hookups, even though we only needed water and electric," mentions a Lebanon Hills camper traveling with a teardrop trailer.
Winter camping limitations: RVers should note that most campgrounds with hookups close seasonally. "We were able to utilize water and electric hookups. We stayed the last night of their camping season," reports a late-season RV camper at Lake Elmo County Park Reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Falcon Heights, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, Falcon Heights, MN offers a wide range of camping options, with 122 campgrounds and RV parks near Falcon Heights, MN and 4 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Falcon Heights, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Falcon Heights, MN is Lebanon Hills Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 43 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Falcon Heights, MN?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 free dispersed camping spots near Falcon Heights, MN.
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